A TELECOMMUNICATIONS LINK MODEL FOR DEEP SPACE, WITH APPLICATIONS TO THE HELIOS PROBE

Abstract

The concept of the coherent PCM/PSK/PM telecommunication system of the US/German solar probe mission HELIOS is presented. Subsystem performance models are given for the telemetry link using theoretical, simulation, and measurement results, to obtain a realistic approximation to the over-all link performance. After the system description, performance/ efficiency models are discussed for the (sequential) data decoder, symbol synchronizer, subcarrier and RF demodulation, and waveform distortion. The integrated over-all link model is then applied to minimizing the total signal-to-noise ratio requirement at receiver input. Examples from the HELIOS link design demonstrate the feasability of the approach.